HCU doc nails Smriti statement in House

Says Rohith was checked within minutes

While Union HRD minister Smriti Irani had stated in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that no doctor had attended to HCU research scholar Rohit Vemula’s body for several hours after he committed suicide, the healthcare centre at the varsity has a different version altogether.

Dr M. Rajshree, who was the duty doctor on the fateful day (January 17), said that she had rushed to the room where Rohith had committed suicide between 7.20 to 7.30 pm after being informed. Security officials had found the body in room No. 207 of the new research scholars’ hostel and informed the health centre, she said.

“His body was removed from the ceiling fan by the time I reached there. I checked the body and declared him dead in 10 minutes. I also informed the V-C, registrar and dean of student welfare (DSW). I was present till 3 am that day,” she said on Thursday. This information was also recorded in the health book which was signed by Dr Rajshree. The contents read: “Body … cold, bloody abdomen, protruding tongue, froth coming out of the mouth, pupils were dilated, no heart sound and no sounds of breathing.”

Ms Irani during her speech had said that no one had been allowed near the body until 6.30 am the next day. This drew the ire of the HCU students’ JAC. “Whatever the minister said was untrue. The doctor examined in the presence of police and students,” said Venkatesh Chouhan, a student leader.